Dynamic input at a touch-based interface based on pressure

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems that may enable a touch-based interface to receive dynamic user inputs based on pressure. An exemplary method may involve: (a) detecting a touch interaction including an increase in pressure greater than a first threshold pressure-increase followed by a reduction in pressure greater than a threshold pressure-reduction; and (b) responsive to detecting the touch interaction, initiating an operation based on a region of the touch-based interface that corresponds to the touch interaction, wherein the operation is associated with the touch interaction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and 
 program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at least one processor to:
 receive an input signal corresponding to one or more touch interactions on a touch-based interface; 
 determine a pressure level of a given touch interaction at a given time; 
 detect a first touch interaction comprising a reduction in pressure level at a first location on the touch-based interface from within a first pressure range to within a second pressure range; 
 responsive to detecting the first touch interaction, initiate a first operation based on a region of the touch-based interface that corresponds to the first touch interaction; 
 detect a second touch interaction at a second location on the touch-based interface, wherein the second touch interaction comprises an increase in pressure at the second location from within a third pressure range to within a fourth pressure range, followed by a reduction in pressure at the second location from within the fourth pressure range to within a fifth pressure range below the third pressure range; and 
 responsive to detecting the second touch interaction, initiate a second operation based on the second location on the touch-based interface. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first touch interaction comprises a tap on the touch-based interface. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second touch interaction comprises an increasing-pressure touch interaction. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second pressure range is a zero-pressure range that results from a substantial lack of pressure on the touch-based interface. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fifth pressure range is a zero-pressure range that results from a substantial lack of pressure on the touch-based interface. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure range is equal to the third pressure range, and wherein the second pressure range is equal to the fifth pressure range. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second pressure range is equal to the fifth pressure range, and wherein the second pressure range is a zero-pressure range that corresponds to a substantial lack of pressure on the touch-based interface. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second touch interaction remains within the third pressure range for at least a predetermined period of time before the increase from the third pressure range to the fourth pressure range. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second touch interaction remains within the fourth pressure range for at least a predetermined period of time before the reduction in pressure from the fourth pressure range to the fifth pressure range. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by at least one processor to cause a computing device to:
 detect a third touch interaction comprising an increase in pressure from a sixth pressure range to a seventh pressure range followed by one of:
 a decrease in pressure from the seventh pressure range to within the sixth pressure range before a pre-determined amount of time has lapsed; or 
 a maintenance of pressure within the seventh pressure range for the pre-determined amount of time; 
 
 responsive to the decrease in pressure from the seventh pressure range to within the sixth pressure range before a pre-determined amount of time has lapsed, initiate a third operation; and 
 responsive to the maintenance of pressure within the seventh pressure range for the pre-determined amount of time, initiate a fourth operation. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a head-mounted display, wherein the head-mounted display comprises at least one lens element, and wherein a graphic display is integrated into the at least one lens element. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the touch-based interface is attached to the head-mounted display. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the head-mounted display further comprises at least one extending side-arm, and wherein the touch-based interface is attached to one of the at least one extending side-arm. 
     
     
       14. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 detecting a first touch interaction at a first location on a touch-based interface, wherein the first touch interaction comprises a tap interaction comprising a reduction in pressure at the first location from a first pressure range to a second pressure range; 
 responsive to detecting the first touch interaction, initiating a first operation based on a region of the touch-based interface that corresponds to the first touch interaction; 
 detecting a second touch interaction at a second location on the touch-based interface, wherein the second touch interaction includes an increase in pressure at the second location from within a third pressure range within a fourth pressure range, followed by a reduction in pressure at the second location from within the fourth pressure range to within a fifth pressure range below the third pressure range; and 
 responsive to detecting the second touch interaction, initiating a second operation based on the second location on the touch-based interface. 
 
     
     
       15. The computer-implemented method  claim 14 , wherein the second pressure range is a zero-pressure range that results from a substantial lack of pressure on the touch-based interface. 
     
     
       16. The computer-implemented method  claim 14 , wherein the fifth pressure range is a zero-pressure range that results from a substantial lack of pressure on the touch-based interface.